Disrupted menstrual cycle: how to better understand it in order to react appropriately?

In recent years, many of us have noticed that our cycles are disrupted. For some, periods stop suddenly for a few months, only to return with a heavier flow, sometimes even abnormally. Conversely, others report shorter cycles than before or spotting that occurs unexpectedly and erratically. When should we start to worry?

We immersed ourselves in reading the book "Habiter son uté" by Maud Renard (@la_oniora), published in September 2021 by Tana éditions.

The first lesson from this specialist in natural and emotional gynecology is reassuring: " Only 13% of menstruating people have a 28-day cycle. Moreover, the duration of a balanced cycle is considered to be between 23 and 35 days."

So when can we talk about a disrupted cycle? Only if there is more than a seven-day difference between one cycle and the next. Hence the importance of observing our moons carefully over a period of at least three months before making it a problem.
The standard? What standard?
The very word "rules" is misleading. Indeed, this term, from the Latin "regula" (rule, set square, law), gives the impression of a regular, immutable rhythm that authoritatively governs our lives as women from puberty to menopause. This is why it may be preferable to speak of menstruation and periods ("monthly periods") or of the lunar cycle.

“There is no such thing as a normal cycle, neither in length, nor in flow, nor in regularity… We can perhaps speak of a median cycle within a range of time and flow. But today, I prefer to say a ‘balanced’ cycle, that is to say, the cycle that is right for you. It must be comfortable in your life, and I emphasize ‘your life’ and not that of your mother, or your girlfriend, or your gynecologist. ”

However, changes in contraception, the return of menstruation after pregnancy, periods of high stress, or illness are all factors that can disrupt our cycle. Here are some keys to better understand what is happening in our bodies, as well as at the level of our emotions. "From the perspective of emotional gynecology, the length of the cycle symbolizes the rhythm of internal cleansing," writes the specialist. "The uterus decides when is the perfect time for it to release energy so that it can be renewed."

What if we listened to what he has to say?

Read also: Help, I'm stopping the pill .

A short menstrual cycle?

"When a cycle lasts less than 23 days, it means it's already overflowing with emotions and needs to clear all that out before moving forward."

The right questions to ask yourself:

What is overflowing and needs to be released so quickly? What change needs to be made in our daily lives? Has a loss occurred?

A long menstrual cycle?

Are your periods delayed beyond 35 days? This symbolizes a lack of action. Our "emotional tank" is waiting to be completely full before the major cleansing.

The right questions to ask yourself:

A situation waiting to be resolved? A choice to be made? A problem we don't want to solve? "We can question the stagnation of solar energy, perhaps a blockage preventing action."

An irregular menstrual cycle?

When a cycle varies by 7 days from one month to the next, it's advisable to consult a doctor to investigate the possible hormonal causes. But even on an emotional level, these confusing moments can correspond to "periods of profound choices or life transitions: Do I stay or do I leave? What do I gain and what do I lose? Decisions are often a source of doubt."

The right questions to ask yourself:

Who do I want to be in 20 years? What is the life I dream of? By projecting ourselves into the long term and staying the course, we gradually calm these existential questions that are very common in a life.

Amenorrhea?

These are the moments when the cycle disappears completely. The body becomes linear.

What does Maud Renard say about it? Since there was a previous cycle, "the transition to the adult world, and more symbolically to the world of 'women,' has been made. However, for various reasons, the person declined the invitation to this transition."

The right questions to ask yourself:

Why was this passage rejected? What is the symbolism of childhood and adulthood? What does the feminine term awaken in us?

Why are our emotions and hormones linked?

Has your cycle been irregular for more than three months? Then we should look at our hormonal system. Abnormally high or low levels of certain hormones generally explain unpleasant Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or an "abnormal" cycle length.

What's happening inside us? "GnRH is the basis of the menstrual cycle," explains Maud Renard in her book "Living in Your Uterus." Without it, nothing would happen in your ovaries, and they wouldn't send signals to the uterus. This hormone is produced by the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that manages basic needs as well as the expression of emotions. If these needs are met, the hypothalamus functions correctly and sends hormones, including GnRH, into the body. If they aren't, then a disruption is to be expected." Genetic, psychological, and environmental factors: whatever the cause, the hypothalamus disrupts the hormonal circuit. "Since GnRH is no longer directed to the pituitary gland, FSH is no longer secreted. The ovaries, without information from the brain, don't initiate follicle development; Estrogen is no longer secreted, the menstrual cycle stops, and there are no more periods. This is an extreme example, but it shows how important the hypothalamus – and with it, emotions – plays in the menstrual cycle.

How to restore a regular menstrual cycle?

- We observe each other gently:

Our body speaks to us; it even has a thousand things to tell us. Every day, we take a few minutes to fill out a journal of our cycles, in the form of a wheel where we note our mood, our appetite, our state of mind.

- We release our emotions:

Sadness, anger, nostalgia… It's perfectly normal to experience fluctuating moods throughout our cycle. We acknowledge these feelings and use menstruation as an opportunity to consciously release them through a visualization ritual where everything flows out of us.

- We balance our diet:

We limit, or even avoid, pro-inflammatory foods such as saturated fats, white sugars and other refined products, stimulants like coffee, salt, and dairy products. Instead, we load up on fiber and vitamins through a variety of organic, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and on omega-3, -9, and -6 fatty acids thanks to vegetable oils, seeds, and nuts.

- We pay attention to endocrine disruptors:

Plastics, clothing, cosmetics… Present in various everyday objects, these “chemical agents (natural or artificial) mimic hormonal messengers and confuse organs by sending them ‘false’ information. The message that the glands communicate to the organs is thus short-circuited,” explains Maud Renard. The best option is therefore to favor natural and organic products.

- Press pause:

A hormonal imbalance, such as hyperestrogenism (which causes unpleasant PMS), can be explained by "difficulty managing stress linked to physical and/or mental fatigue due to cortisol," a survival hormone secreted by the body at the expense of progesterone. The consequence? "A vicious cycle often develops: stress in life triggers PMS, which, being unpleasant, creates anxiety that leads to an even greater drop in progesterone, resulting in even more PMS." This process can be defused through regular breaks, meditation, and regular physical activity.

- We're betting on plants:

The hormonal cycle can be rebalanced with the help of plants such as raspberry (regularity of the cycle), yarrow and chaste tree (anti-estrogen, progesterone-like), clary sage (anti-depression), nettle (rich in iron) or dandelion (liver cleanser).
Discover our " We want a harmonious cycle" treatment, 100% plant-based, where each ampoule helps the body regain a more stable hormonal function for more serene cycles, better physical comfort and lasting emotional balance.

To learn more:

The 10 Commandments for balancing your hormones through diet

Is your skin prone to hormonal acne? We explain the causes and how to get rid of it!

The menstrual cycle influences libido: we went to explore the sacred feminine!